Someone needs to explain to me what the fetish is with having your pockets crammed with as much sh!t as your pockets can handle. Turnout gear is heavy enough as it is, then you get it wet and its reaaaal heavy....add some hand tools, flashlights, door chocks, ems supplies, batteries, a camera, and a chicken parm sandwich -- you become too heavy to move and too bluky to preform a number of personal escape techniques that could save your life. There is one exception here, and that is the RIT team. As far as I'm concerned, they can carry whatever the f**k they want as long as they have the right tool to come get my a$$ if I go down.
Personally, any FF that plans on putting anything in their pockets should invest in the 5.11 or comparable pocket organizers. I purchased two, one for each of my pant leg pockets and ended up sending one back because I fit everything in one side. Again, personally, I only utilize one, thats right, i said it, one pocket. The goal is to keep your profile to a minimum as to reduce the chance that you'll become entangled or hung up. Putting any sort of door chocks, hoods, flashlights, or basically anything useful in your turnout COAT pockets becomes useless. Next time you don an SCBA properly (all buckles buckled, straps tightened etc..) try to get your gloves out of your turnout coat pocket, or a door chock for that matter. Your SCBA straps will usually, if donned correctly, block access to your waist pockets on your coat.
Heres what I carry in 1 pocket:
Channelock 89 series rescue tool
3 Door Chocks
1 Shove Knife
1 Benchmade H20 Divers Knife in hi-vis yellow -- I use a divers knife because it isn't pointed however it's very sharp, just to reduce the risk of sticking it through my leg when returning it to its sheath also makes a handy pry bar
2 Pieces of webbing -- 1 10' and 1 16'
3 Pairs ems gloves
1 Pair ems shears
1 Pair safety glasses -- Smith&Wesson anti-fog
And I must admit, I lied to you all, I do use the radio pocket of my turnout coat, however I keep absolutely no sort of firefighting equipment in there, just a full pack of cigarettes at all times :thumbsup: